Bath BUCS Super Rugby player Austin Emens earns first Great Britain call-up for Emirate Dubai 7s

University of Bath student Austin Emens will make his GB Rugby Sevens debut this weekend after being selected to compete at the renowned Emirates Dubai 7s.

His call-up comes after the Business student impressed during a training week in Malaga ahead of the opening round of the revamped and rebranded HSBC SVNS 2024 series and through his performances for Bath’s BUCS Super Rugby squad during the past few seasons.

Emens has been a regular starter at full-back for the University men’s 1st XV during the current campaign and was among the try-scorers during the recent 43-0 home win over Nottingham.

Aaron James, Head of Rugby at the University of Bath, said: “Austin has been in top form for us in BUCS Super Rugby this year and this selection is just reward for his performances in 15s and 7s during 2023. He has a passion for 7s and impressed many with his performances in nationwide tournaments last summer.

“As a rugby club we proud to see one of our players be selected for higher honours, and we are looking forward to seeing Austin take to the field for GB in Dubai and Cape Town over the next two weekends.”

GB men have been drawn in Pool C in Dubai and will face France in their opening match at 6.06am GMT on Saturday, followed by the United States at 9.30am and double Olympic gold-medallists Fiji at 4pm.

Bath alumnae Grace Crompton and Amy Wilson Hardy have been selected for the GB women’s squad who face Fiji (5.44am), New Zealand (9.05am) and South Africa (1.13pm) in their Pool A fixtures.

The Emirates Dubai 7s has been a mainstay of HSBC SVNS since its inception in 1999 and competition promises to be intense at the start of a season which culminates with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Click here to find out more about the rugby programme at the University of Bath.